His latest stunt comes just days after he scored the winner as Italy edged England 2-1 in Manaus in their Group D opener.

It’s unlikely to send positive signals through the Italian camp, but if he can replicate his match-winning antics then it’s unlikely his team-mates will give him too much grief.

He even slapped a sticker of himself in the place of legendary Italian keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

Given the stopper is currently sidelined through injury and number two Salvatore Sirigu is recovering from a rib complaint, it’s not entirely implausible that Balotelli will take a spot between the posts before the World Cup is over.